SUMMER 2012
CVE REPORTER
A Snowbird Reviews By JANICE ZAMSKY
April shows all turned out to be sleepers – far better than expected! As I’ve told you previously, one absolutely can’t prejudge a show by its ticket price. These were all five dollar events, yet they were all very professionally performed. What better way to spend a Saturday evening? Ann Anello and Paul Golden, April 7 Paul Golden mesmerized his small audience with his outstanding dual skills as a pianist and a vocalist. Starting out with the very best of the golden oldies, Golden captivated the CVE theater goers with a hearty Mario Lanza favorite By My Love. Trained as a concert pianist, Golden then performed excerpts from various classical works. Golden treated his audience to a musical smorgasbord which they enthusiastically devoured: George M. Cohen tunes (I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy, Over There, You’re a Grand Old Flag),I Love Paris, Besame Mucho, Never on
Sunday, O Solo Mio (impressively sung in the style of Luciano Pavarotti), Avenu Sholem Aleichem, I’ll be Seeing You. What a performance! We hope to see him back here in the future. Cavendish Presents Three Sopranos, April 14 Three very talented sopranos, ably assisted by the venerable maestro, Dr. Warren Broome at the piano, gave a spectacular concert of opera, operetta and Broadway. Frequent changes of lush gowns added to the elegance of this beautiful evening. Enid Gonzales, Jennifer Maurel and Marcela Penaranda. All three gave very credible performances in solos, duets and as a trio. My favorite was the statuesque Maurel, not only for her voice, but also because she sang my two favorite operatic arias (The Toreador Song from Carmen and a familiar aria from Barber of Seville.) David Presler and Shira Flam, April 21 More versatile performers! David and Shira won the audience’s hearts with
their vocal talents, stage presences and extensive repertoire. David is also an accomplished pianist. Two tunes from Fiddler on the Roof (If I Were a Rich Man by David and Do You Love Me by Shira) were outstanding. An operatic duet was also highly enjoyable. Lots of Broadway songs performed by this talented duo made it Some Enchanted Evening for the audience. Judy Scott with Jack Dibo, April 28 Veteran comedian Jack Dibo instantly endeared himself to his audience here by commenting, “This is the youngest crowd I’ve worked before!” Well into his senior years, Dibo is amazing as a raconteur and he also can sing and dance. His impression of Louie Prima was great. He gave a most credible Dean Martin imitation with You’re Nobody ‘til Somebody Loves You. His jokes were hilarious. Many of them were his own reruns, but he told them so skillfully that no one minded. Judy Scott, a classy, talented song stylist, presented the
tunes of Irving Berlin and commented briefly about his life. This talented gal is well suited to give a fitting tribute to a great American composer. Jimmy Mazz, May 5 Another sleeper! Both the opener and the main act were highly enjoyable. The female vocalist was even more talented as a pianist. She could really tickle those ivories. A Montreal native, she was of course outstanding with C’est Si Bon in her native tongue. Menon Robert was very personable as well as a most accomplished musician. Jimmy Mazz radiated charisma as soon as he strode onto the stage! His voice, impressions and personality were unbelievable. Especially memorable were his imitations of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. A very energetic personality and a powerful voice resulted in his fantastic vocal imitations, complete with gestures, of such varied performers as Johnny Cash, Michael Jackson, Bobby Darin, Louis Armstrong and
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Jimmy Durante. A most professional entertainer! Ruby Redwine and Robert Kole, May 12 Both performers were great vocalists, in duets and solo numbers. Robert Kole is absolutely amazing. He’s not only a tenor, but also at home at the piano. Obviously not a youngster, he’s peppy and has a strong voice. Ruby Redwine has a powerful soprano. I would’ve loved to hear her perform just one opera aria. The duo collaborated in stunning, dramatic selections from both West Side Story and Man of La Mancha. The latter was most spectacular. Kole also wowed the audience with Phantom of the Opera tunes. The singers were accompanied by a pianist and a percussionist. Now it’s time to say goodbye until all of us snowbirds fly south again in the fall. Au Revoire, Arrivederci, S’Long!